Blog Posts - The Nature Conservancy in Washingtonhttp://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/Fri, 08 Dec 2017 21:00:25 +0000en-USSite-Server v6.0.0-12700-12700 (http://www.squarespace.com)Field Notes Our Stories on the BlogOur Salmon Are Choking on Toxicants — What's the Solution?The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonThu, 07 Dec 2017 22:04:09 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/our-salmon-are-dying-whats-the-solution5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a29a0d5652dea5a33391fc7We need to work together to begin solving the challenge of stormwater
pollution to support the health of freshwater and marine ecosystems,
including salmon and people.By Camilo McConnell, RAY Conservation Fellow,

Two of the Puget Sound region’s most well-known natural forces are rain and salmon. Rain sustains much of the natural beauty of the area while salmon serve as a point of cultural pride and identity, sustaining livelihoods for generations. Rapid urbanization, though, has upset the relationship between salmon and rain.

But urbanizing cities have replaced natural landscapes with roads, bridges, buildings, houses, highways, parking lots and other forms of impervious development. Every time it rains, rainwater lands on impervious areas, picking pollutants that accumulate on the surface. This produces a toxic runoff that goes into storm drains and roadside ditches. Often, this toxic runoff goes through our storm drains untreated, traveling directly into creeks, rivers and Puget Sound. Because of this, stormwater runoff remains the No. 1 source of pollution to Puget Sound, affecting human and fish health in the basin.

For salmon that travel in the creeks and rivers that flow into Puget Sound, the toxic mix can be deadly. According to the report, “40 percent of the total area of the Puget Sound river basins that support coho are predicted to have adult mortality rates that substantively increase the risk of local population extinction.”Coho salmon are especially susceptible to the deadly effects of stormwater, becoming disoriented, gaping, losing equilibrium and dying within a few hours of entering stormwater-affected streams.

To understand the long-term ecological impact of stormwater on coho populations, the NOAA research team has spent more than a decade documenting coho mortality rates in urban streams. They pay particular attention to pre-spawn mortality rates in females, which arrive in the fall to lay their eggs in stream gravels. Depending on the creek, however, 60 percent to 90 percent of the fall run of females die with their bellies still full of eggs due to the toxicity of the water. Because each fish only spawns once in its life, there is no second chance to start the next generation.

Big Project, Big Impact

A project in Fremont demonstrates the possibilities when developers are motivated to go above and beyond to address stormwater management.

Generally, runoff contaminants can include “sediment, nutrients (from lawn fertilizers), bacteria (from animal and human waste), pesticides (from lawn and garden chemicals), metals (from rooftops and roadways) and petroleum byproducts (from leaking vehicles, combustion engines, and tire wear).”However, adult coho salmon mortality does not seem to correlate with these conventionally measured water-chemistry characteristics. And since “hundreds or even thousands of distinct chemical contaminants in urban stormwater runoff have never been toxicologically characterized," the exact cause of death remains unidentified.

So, the search continues to identify the specific pollutants in stormwater runoff causing coho salmon death. Recently, researchers at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Waters, NOAA, Washington State University's Stormwater Center and the UW’s department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are pioneering new methodologies to identify organic pollutants in stormwater and fish. What they are finding matches the NOAA study “Roads to Ruin” — motor-vehicle-derived contaminants are the likeliest cause of coho mortality, with acetanilide, a stabilizer for rubber in tires, the most newly identified toxicant showing up in both stormwater, fish gills and liver.

While definitive research about the cause may not yet exist, what is known is that salmon remain the most iconic and culturally and economically significant species in the Pacific Northwest. “[Salmon] are central to the identity and traditional practices of indigenous peoples, vital for recreational and commercial fisheries, and keystone species for inland ecosystems as sources of marine-derived nutrients.” Coho salmon are a sentinel species — their health illustrates how polluted stormwater affects human and marine life — and will continue to into the future.

We need to work together to begin solving the challenge of stormwater pollution to support the health of freshwater and marine ecosystems, including salmon and people. Part of the solution is better integrating cities and nature. The study highlighted in the report looked at how green-stormwater infrastructure can address polluted stormwater. The team at NOAA conducted an experiment where coho salmon were placed into tanks with polluted stormwater runoff — 100 percent of them died. When the salmon were placed into tanks with polluted stormwater that had been filtered by soil media — all the salmon survived.

By incorporating green-stormwater infrastructure into our cities, we are bringing back the ecological functions that once dotted the landscape. Nature has always provided the best solutions, it’s now up to us to reintegrate those solutions to our cities.

We were ready to learn — but also ready to lunch. A group of staff from The Nature Conservancy in Washington recently took a midday trip to the Seattle Culinary Academy at Seattle Central College located in the heart of Capitol Hill.

But a tasty gourmet meal wasn’t the only draw — we came hungry for knowledge about the academy’s commitment to sustainability and “Earth-kind” practices. The Seattle Culinary Academy was the first school in the country to require each student take a farm-to-table course, starting in 2005.

Chef Drew Flanders whet our appetites with a tour through the academy’s world-class kitchen, complete with a dedicated chocolate room! (Sadly, there were no samples for curious interlopers peeking in during a class session.) From the spacious, sun-filled stations that span breads to butchery, to a mill for grinding ancient grains, students and instructors work together to sharpen their skills, as well as feed their fellow students.

Throughout training, the chef instructors emphasize “respect for the animal, respect for the land,” according to Chef Flanders. This is especially evident in the academy’s nose-to-tail butchery philosophy: a growing movement that aims to use every possible part of an animal for cooking and consumption, minimizing waste and honoring the animal as well as the natural resources necessary to raise it. It’s a tall order. As Flanders noted, “It takes a special skill set to turn tripe into something delicious.”

After our whirlwind tour, we finally sat for a one-of-a-kind meal at the One World Restaurant. With fresh, locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, the beautiful dishes pleased our conservationist sensibilities as well as our senses.

Even outside the cutting-edge kitchen and specialty chef selections, we can bring this reverence to our tables every day, understanding where our food comes from and taking care of the natural resources that help cultivate our cuisine. After all, agriculture is a Washington legacy. Healthy lands, fresh water, and thriving oceans feed not only our bellies, but also our economy, ensuring livelihoods throughout Washington.

]]>A Tasty Tour of Sustainability at Seattle Culinary AcademyUrge Congress to Support the Wildfire Disaster Funding ActGovernment RelationsThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonMon, 04 Dec 2017 23:58:18 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/wdfa-prescribed-fire-forest-health-policy5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a25d06a0d92976a9da81c31The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act would allow the Forest Service to access
disaster funding rather than having to "borrow" from its regular forest
health accounts to fight wildfire. Learn how you can support the effort.The cost of fighting this year’s wildfires has surpassed $2.4 billion nationwide, far more than Congress had appropriated to the U.S. Forest Service for fighting fire. And this year isn’t unique — fire suppression needs have been outstripping supply as the population grows, climate changes, and funding doesn’t keep pace.

To come up with the necessary funds to protect lives and property when emergency aid is needed most, the Forest Service is forced to "borrow" money from other critical programs in its budget — programs that support forest health, recreation and watershed restoration.

Fire and the Forest

Click here to learn more about the history of wildfire in the United States and why fire is important for forest health.

This practice of “fire borrowing” creates a vicious cycle: When money is "borrowed" from regular forest-health accounts to fight wildfires, less is left for forest resilience measures, such as mechanical thinning or prescribed burning. When appropriate thinning and prescribed burns don’t happen, the risk of “megafires” increases. When megafires happen, money must again be borrowed from forest-health accounts to fight them. And the cycle continues.

This problem can be fixed. The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA) would allow the Forest Service to access disaster funding rather than having to "borrow" from its regular forest health accounts to fight wildfire. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle across the country support WDFA, andall of Washington’s representatives in Congress are co-sponsors of the bill.

Congress has been considering this legislation for the past four years. Now is the time to get the job done and bring this common-sense legislation over the finish line. It’s an easy win from an economic standpoint: It’s much cheaper to treat forests for resilience to fire than to fight wildfires once they’ve started. And it’s crucial: The Forest Service estimates thathalf the acreage it manages nationwide needs treatment to reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health.

Email your senators and representatives]]>Urge Congress to Support the Wildfire Disaster Funding ActBoeing Gives Big to Support Our Work to Clean Up Puget SoundThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonSat, 02 Dec 2017 00:19:46 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/boeing-grant-stormwater-runoff-pollution-solutions5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a21e835f9619a124de6cbbfA new $1.5 million grant from Boeing gives continuing support to our work
to tackle the biggest threat to Puget Sound.A new $1.5 million grant from Boeing gives continuing support to our work to tackle the biggest threat to Puget Sound — stormwater pollution.

This grant is crucial support for our work to build a coordinated approach to cleaning up the millions of gallons of polluted runoff that flow off our roads, parking lots and other paved surfaces when it rains. Seventy-five percent of the pollution in the Sound comes from these hard, urban surfaces.

“We’ve known for years that stormwater is the toughest threat to Puget Sound,” said Jessie Israel, Puget Sound Conservation Director for the Conservancy. “We have clear solutions, and this support from Boeing is enabling us to work together for those solutions.”

The grant to the Conservancy builds on an earlier, two-year Boeing grant that enabled the chapter to launch the new City Habitats coalition. Conservation, business, research and local government partners are working together to discover new ways to overcome barriers to effective action in the Puget Sound region.

“Projects like Seattle’s Swale on Yale or the Fremont neighborhood’s Aurora Bridge Stormwater Project filter polluted stormwater and clean toxins before they reach Puget Sound — and they are doing it at a neighborhood scale,” Israel said. “Removing pavement and planting trees and other shrubbery, as is being done at Holy Rosary School in Tacoma, allows rain to infiltrate the soil, filters air pollution and reduces heat and noise from the adjacent freeway. Research shows that living with nature around us makes us healthier, happier and more productive, and supports safe, thriving communities.

With new funding, the Conservancy will be able to build on this work. Our Washington chapter is developing modeling tools that will enable local communities to identify where projects like raingardens, bioswales, urban trees and other natural infrastructure would have the most effect in reducing toxic runoff into Puget Sound as well as benefiting public health and the nearby neighborhoods.

Conservancy staff will be able to work directly with communities around Puget Sound to provide technical support for planning and implementing on-the-ground stormwater projects, including investing time and resources in community engagement and ensuring multiple voices are at the table when decisions about these projects are made.

]]>Boeing Gives Big to Support Our Work to Clean Up Puget SoundDecember Photo of the Month: Like a Hooded Giant, the Mountain StoodThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonFri, 01 Dec 2017 16:02:00 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/december-photo-of-the-month-like-a-hooded-giant-the-mountain-stood-snoqualmie-pass5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a208e1324a694eb0d0f75a0"Nature speaks what is written upon it, and anyone who reads and
acknowledges with an open heart will receive the positivity it speaks,"
writes our photographer of the month.

Nature was not always my refuge. In fact, for most of my life, nature brought more anxiety than peace. I was blind to the benefits because I had evolved to consider the energy emanating from cities as normal. Yet my aversion for nature would change to a deep affinity for it.

Suddenly, motivated by God’s providence, I left my entire career, house, cars and life to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and begin practicing photography. Shunning the raised eyebrows of family, friends and former coworkers, I set off for five months and listened to what nature had to say. I began shifting from an analytical mindset to an artistic one.

Anxieties and fears within me were exposed for what they were. I witnessed as nature expressed the pace our lives should travel but found my body unwilling to comply. There was conflict between the pattern of this world and nature. I took note of how nature is completely authentic all the time then saw how my mind, body and heart had to be retrained.

Nature can help heal our minds and bodies in ways that science can measure, but the most relevant benefits cannot be explained so easily. Nature is more than its sum of the parts. We engage our senses in it and it communicates something to our soul that changes us, if we let it. The miracles of nature become more incredible the more we study them with our hearts and not just our minds.

Nature calibrates you and the 2,650 miles of PCT has a special place in my heart. At Snoqualmie Pass, there is a PCT trailhead. Knowing there was snow at higher elevation brought excitement as snow covered conifers are some of my favorite things. Hiking up, you first start in a dense forest. A fog lingered in the woods and brings an ethereal contentment. Walking farther, the woods give way to a wide open scene with Guye Peak almost coming to life with the mesmerizing fog. The trail transitioned to snow and the winter’s unique silence that occurs with snow fell on the landscape. The music of a walk on the breaking snow brings a smile, and the crisp air rides on the scent of pine.

Like a hooded giant, the mountain stood. I was as still as the pines and my breath slowly broke the silence. My exhale was almost an expression of thanks. Joy pierced my heart as I find just the right angle to communicate this scene through photography.

To work, the photo must give the feeling of comfort, almost like the image is hugging you, because that’s what the scene communicated. It must also give a smooth change in scale, and as the eyes move from the bottom to the mountain the rocks and tress do just that. Above all, it must speak of the positive sentiment it broadcasts.

Nature speaks what is written upon it, and anyone who reads and acknowledges with an open heart will receive the positivity it speaks. For me, it is most helpful to see nature scenes as art, as the construction of an artist. Then these scenes not only communicate positivity; they are sustained by the knowledge of the love that produced the scenes.

Abel Rojas is a graduate student based out of Walla Walla. He can often be found in a converted van traveling through the beauty of the West Coast. You can see more of his photos and story on his website or follow him on Instagram for more updates.

]]>December Photo of the Month: Like a Hooded Giant, the Mountain StoodTwo-Minute Takeaway: What is an Atmospheric River?The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonThu, 30 Nov 2017 23:58:56 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/two-minute-takeaway-what-is-an-atmospheric-river5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a209087e4966be2ad6ff446In the Pacific Northwest, every major flood has been associated with an
atmospheric river event. What exactly is an atmospheric river?

On Oct. 15, NASA released an image of a 5,000 mile swath of moisture stretching across the Pacific Ocean, heading toward the Pacific Northwest. Western Washington experienced a very wet 72 hours as a result of this cloud band, with more than 10 inches of rain falling in parts of the Olympic Peninsula. Rivers hit flood stage throughout the state.

These weather events are called "atmospheric rivers." We also refer to them as the Pineapple Express, as they often originate in the tropics near Hawaii, sending warm, moist air into the Northern Hemisphere.

The Two-Minute Takeaway

A quick explanation of scientific terms and concepts we use regularly in conservation

Atmospheric rivers are characterizedbymoisture from the tropics confined to a narrow corridor, warm temperatures and high freezing levels. They are neutrally buoyant, so when they encounter high terrain like mountains, they lift easily and cause heavy precipitation.

In the Pacific Northwest, every major flood has been associated with an atmospheric river event. Particularly damaging events occur when heavy rains fall atop snow, sending deluges down from the mountains, through the foothills and spreading across floodplains.

As our climate changes, the intensity and frequency of atmospheric rivers are projected to increase. Green infrastructure that encourages the land to hold more water will be an essential solution, as will floodplain restoration that gives rivers to roam and allows wetlands to soak up storms.

]]>Two-Minute Takeaway: What is an Atmospheric River?Meet Our New Director of Philanthropy, Cara MathisonThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonThu, 30 Nov 2017 01:32:03 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/meet-our-new-director-of-philanthropy-cara-mathison5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a1f586353450a3d8ec147b8Cara tells us a little about herself, and why she is so excited to join The
Nature Conservancy here in Washington.Meet Cara Mathison, our new director of philanthropy, who joined us at the end of October 2017. Cara, 41, tells us a little about herself, and why she is so excited to join The Nature Conservancy here in Washington.

Q: Welcome to Seattle! Tell us how you came to The Nature Conservancy and from where:

I came from the University of Miami, in the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and before that I was at the University of Washington in the College of the Environment. In both places, I worked in philanthropy and fundraising. So I’ve been working with environmental scientists, supporting scientific research and teaching, nearly my whole career.

When the opportunity came up at the Conservancy, the mission, the skill set and the location all made it a perfect fit. My family is excited to get back to camping here where it’s cool and mountainous. My own particular interests are paddle boarding and birding.

Q: How did you develop such a strong connection to nature and conservation?

I grew up in a rural area, heavily agricultural, in Minnesota near the South Dakota border. I spent a lot of time in nature and solitude, with absolutely no bounds on where I could go — and it was amazing.

The fact that my community depended on agriculture was really influential. That ties into what I love about the Conservancy and how we leverage strategic preservation of natural systems with human and economic impacts.

Q: What do you do as director of philanthropy?

I oversee all the philanthropy efforts for Washington state. That means everything from ensuring our trustees are fully engaged to overseeing our philanthropy team, and making sure it’s all integrated with the top priorities of the Washington state chapter and the global Nature Conservancy.

Q: What excites you most about working with our trustees?

The trustees are a fantastic group of intellectual, strategy-oriented people who also bring their hearts to this work. What strikes me about the trustees is that not only do they have a deep passion for the Nature Conservancy, but they really understand our vision and are helping shape our strategy.

Q: How has your first month been? Highlights?

I have been struck by the level of commitment to The Nature Conservancy, on every level, from donors to staff to volunteers. That commitment was deeper and stronger than I realized it would be. It’s infused throughout every single thing that happens here. It makes me feel extremely motivated.

We have an absolutely terrific philanthropy team in place, and strong infrastructure and processes and relationships are already present. I’m excited to be coming into something that is so well-formed.

It’s always a learning curve moving from one large organization to another, so I know how much I still have to learn.

Q: As you settle in, do you have some particular goals?

My goals now are to make sure that our trustees are as engaged and fulfilled as possible, that they have a really deep relationship with the organization. And I want to be certain that my staff has every tool they need to go out and build more relationships for supporting the Conservancy, to make sure we always have new people learning about and financially contributing to our work.

We just received fantastic news this week: The Arbor Day Foundation has fully funded our reforestation proposal including 50,000 tress to be planted on our managed land that was burned during the Jolly Mountain fire.

Approximately 1,800 acres were impacted by the fire and we saw mixed severity in burned areas. There are plenty of areas where the fire did good work for the forest ecosystem, and other areas on the landscape where the fire impacts were intense and natural recovery could take decades.

These intense burn areas are where we plan to focus our planting efforts. Our target is to plant around 100 tress per acre, so these 50,000 tress will be spread across about 500 acres. We think that is a pretty good start.

We are thrilled to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation and help them to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees!

Reese Lolley is Director of Forest Restoration and Fire for The Nature Conservancy in Washington. Reese works with Conservancy staff and partners to develop and implement strategies to conserve, connect and restore the forests of Washington, increasing benefits to those that live, play, and work in these magnificent places.

He is engaged with collaborative groups such as the Tapash Forest Collaborative and the Washington Prescribed Fire Council, and Reese is a founding and Steering Committee member of the Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. He shares and exchanges lessons learned with the Conservancy’s Restore American’s Forests and Fire Learning Network.

Prior to his current position, Reese worked for The Nature Conservancy as a fire ecologist in partnership with the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, as well as for the Forest Service in Montana and Washington. He has over 25 years of experience in applied research and forest management in fire-dependent forest ecosystems. Reese earned a Master’s of Science from the University of Washington with a focus on forest fire behavior and ecology, and a B.S. from Western Washington University emphasizing forest policy. Reese lives in Yakima, Washington with his wife and two sons who enjoy skiing, mountain biking, and raising food on their small farm.

Lloyd McGee has worked for The Nature Conservancy in Washington forests for the last seven years. Previously he was employed by Vaagen Brothers Lumber Company for 18 years as a Forester and Log Procurement/Land Acquisitions Manager in Colville, WA. During his time with Vaagen Brothers, he also served a ten-year period as President of the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition. Currently he is the Co-Chair of the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative, and Chair of the Little Naches Working Group within the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative in South Central Washington. One of Lloyd’s priorities is to recruit a small diameter saw mill into Central Washington to increase revenue on agency forest lands to pay for further ecological restoration.

]]>How to Filter 2 Million Gallons of Stormwater from the Aurora BridgeThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonMon, 27 Nov 2017 20:01:56 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/how-to-filter-2-million-gallons-of-stormwater-from-the-aurora-bridge5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a1c5b7d0d92971bbc24aad3A project demonstrates the possibilities when developers are motivated to
go above and beyond to address stormwater management.By Hannah Kett, Cities Program Manager

The Fremont neighborhood in Seattle has many claims, including being home to the Troll, the Solstice Parade and title of "Center of the Universe." It is adding one more claim: home of an innovative, large-scale, green-infrastructure project capturing polluted water flowing off of the Aurora Bridge.

This project is innovative for many reasons: the scale, the level of voluntary investment by a private developer, the intersection between transportation and green infrastructure, and much more. But at the end of the day, it comes back to the pollution in the stormwater flowing into engineered gardens. This project will be capturing and cleaning some of our region’s dirtiest water — and ensuring it doesn’t flow into Lake Union, negatively impacting the migrating salmon heading to North Lake Washington and Sammamish watersheds.

A Developer Learns about Stormwater

Mark Grey, the Principal of Stephen Grey & Associates, usually starts this project’s story with a description of a video about salmon fry dying in the stormwater runoff from the Highway 520 Bridge, sent to him by Jeremy Febus of KPFF. When he saw that video, he knew he wanted to do something — and as a developer with a building under the Aurora Bridge in the works, he was in a perfect position to do just that.

The water coming off the Aurora Bridge is in bad shape. In winter 2017, water-quality samples were collected from a downspout coming off the bridge to provide a baseline. The results were a surprise even to Salmon-Safe specialist, Richard Horner, who has sampled runoff from highways across the state and nationwide for more than 40 years. For example, the National Stormwater Quality Database has a Total Suspended Solids (TSS) baseline of 99 mg/L. The median for the Aurora Bridge samples is 567 mg/L. The results were similar for the other variables they tested — such as zinc, copper and lead. Much of this is currently flowing untreated into Lake Union and the Ship Canal while another portion is flowing into the overburdened combined-sewer system — the same system that overflowed this spring when Seattle’s West Point Plant experienced systems failure.

This is the same story for much of the rain that falls in the city. In an average city, 25 to 35 percent is a "right of way" — a road, highway or sidewalk. And 75 percent of pollutants in Puget Sound are coming off these hard, urban surfaces. This pollution impacts human health, salmon and our beloved orcas. Southern resident killer whales are on a course headed for extinction — key contributors being Chinook salmon prey shortage and high levels of toxic stormwater runoff affecting immune systems, health and reproductive rates.

Cleaning up bridge and road runoff in a dense urban area like Seattle can be daunting. But the project team had the vision to match the challenge of this particular bridge with a goal of capturing 2 million gallons of stormwater runoff from the bridge through swales and rain garden landscaping engineered to capture and clean the pollution from the dirty water.

As a first phase at the new Data 1 site, Stephen Grey & Associates, Weber-Thompson and KPFF looked beyond the footprint of their building to install rain gardens in the roadside planting strip to capture runoff from the bridge downspouts . The project team sought guidance from the Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities to navigate the permit process and ensure it was a successful project for all parties. The state Department of Transportation has also given its consent for the project.

Moving forward, they have the same ideas planned for two additional phases of development: the new Watershed Building that is currently in permit stages and a future 850-square-foot bioswale adjacent to the Burke Gilman Trail.

Where We're At

The results so far are cascading rain gardens along the west side of Troll Avenue adjacent to the new home for Tableau at the Data 1 building. The landscaping is not just good for salmon and orca, it’s great for humans, too, softening the pedestrian walkway and bringing much-needed green space to the neighborhood located under the bridge.

To manage the volume of water flowing off the bridge, the cascading rain gardens have the addition of an underground holding vault to capture runoff not retained by these features before it is released directly to Lake Union. The underway building on the east side of the street will replicate this process and even take it a step further by capturing additional runoff from the adjacent alley. The green infrastructure installed will capture 400,000 gallons of stormwater runoff when the project is complete.

Throughout these phases, Salmon-Safe has partnered with the project team. Salmon-Safe is a certification process that focuses on site-wide management practices that protect water quality and restore habitat. In addition to certifying the Data 1 site as Salmon-Safe, the organization is taking the lead on incorporating educational signage into the gardens for those who live, work and visit the neighborhood.

Getting to 2 Million Gallons Managed

This partnership with Salmon-Safe is even more important as they look to Phase Three. With support from Boeing and The Nature Conservancy, Salmon-Safe has been developing the case for the value of a third green-infrastructure site, capturing an additional 1.2 million gallons of stormwater runoff from the Aurora Bridge.

In addition to getting a baseline measurement of pollution in the runoff, Salmon-Safe and the project team have been working with permitting agencies within the City of Seattle and the state Department of Ecology, as well as the state Department of Transportation team, to understand what type of permitting processes and costs are involved in this stage of the project.

This phase of the project, as it is designed, will provide enhanced water-quality treatment for 98 percent of all stormwater received by the facility, removing 80 percent of total suspended solids. This is above and beyond the standard of 91 percent of total runoff set by the Department of Ecology and the City of Seattle.

There is still work needed to get this project in the ground. Salmon-Safe and the project team are continuing to work with the state Department of Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities to navigate the permitting requirements, rerouting of the stormwater downspouts and any related costs. Regardless of the results, the project team will need to raise the capital to move the project forward.

Next, with continued support from The Nature Conservancy and Boeing, Salmon-Safe will lead a public-engagement process to engage those who live, work and play in the Fremont neighborhood to help design the bioswale. In addition to being in the "Center of the Universe" near businesses like Tableau, Google and Adobe, the site for this potential bioswale sits adjacent to the Burke-Gilman Trail, a heavily used bike and pedestrian path. The neighborhood impact of this project goes beyond stormwater management: adding beauty, pedestrian safety and supporting its place in the watershed.

The Project's Potential

Capturing 2 million gallons of stormwater is big. But this project has the potential for even greater impact. Salmon-Safe and the project team are learning about the permitting challenges for these types of large-scale projects — and how to work through them. Through this process, Salmon-Safe and the rest of the project team will be able to ease the effort for future projects of such scale.

The project also provides a tangible example of the value of addressing the polluted stormwater flowing off bridges. This project is cleaning some of the dirtiest rainwater runoff — and providing benefits to those who live, work and play in this neighborhood.

Together we can radically re-imagine cities and towns as good for nature and good for people. Puget Sound is not only a place; it’s a quality of life. It’s our home — the backdrop of our lives—where land and water meet to create diverse communities, economies and an entrepreneurial spirit that draws people from all over the world. As this region that we love continues to grow, there’s not a moment to lose.

]]>How to Filter 2 Million Gallons of Stormwater from the Aurora BridgeHunters Helping ConservationThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonWed, 22 Nov 2017 21:56:43 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/hunters-helping-conservation5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a15c25cf9619afa6aa77152Hunting season is in full swing now, so get out your blaze orange and go
give a hunter a high-five.By Randi Shaw, Stewardship Manager

Hunting season is in full swing now, so get out your blaze orange and go give a hunter a high-five. Why? Because more of those hunters than you might realize have done a lot to help our conservation cause.

First and foremost, it's a pleasure to report on the incredible and continued success of the Moses Coulee Hunter Steward program in our shrub-steppe preserves. Eastern Washington Stewardship Coordinator Nick Altadonna and Moses Coulee Land Manager Corinna Hanson led a big effort to make this program possible once again, running more than 15 events across the Conservancy’s Washington preserve complex — with projects including trail maintenance, signage, fencing, field monitoring and taking care of our facilities.

These essential stewardship tasks would never get done without the more than 50 hunter-stewards this year that came out to help. Each steward gives a minimum of two days and in return receives deer hunting privileges on our lands. Many of these stewards come from the surrounding communities, but some come from hours away to give their time to our Eastern Washington landscapes. And the majority of these hunter-stewards have participated year after year, upwards of 10 years. That's a lot of on-the-ground support.

A sampling of the stats for 2017 that got my gratitude going:

Number of volunteer hours: 515 (that's more than 12 40-hour work weeks!)

Number of projects: 15-plus

Miles of trail: 7.5

Hours of facility maintenance: 18

Miles of signage installed: 7.5

Pounds of trash removed: 4,000

Hours of field monitoring: 132

I must also mention, however, another superstar on the subject of hunter support. Rick Skiba, of the Washington Waterfowl Association (WWA), regularly checks in on Port Susan Bay and helps with the recurring issues of dumping and other human misuse throughout the year. He also takes care of our "swan sign," ensuring that the vegetation doesn't block it, and taking it down every fall to keep it in good condition.

A father and son on a Port Susan Bay Youth Hunt. Photo by Randi Shaw / TNC

Rick also organizes an important community event twice a season for the local hunting community at Port Susan Bay. He, with others at the WWA, run the annual youth hunt day at Port Susan, part of a statewide day meant to help teach the next generation of hunters ethical and safe practices. It also brings families together in the outdoors, which is ever-more important in a digital age.

It's good to remember these examples of all the hunters out there who support The Nature Conservancy, conservation work and who recognize you can't hunt without habitat. Kudos to them!

]]>Hunters Helping ConservationWhich Are Greener? Real or Artificial Christmas TreesThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonTue, 21 Nov 2017 23:17:57 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/which-more-environmentally-friendly-real-or-artificial-fake-christmas-trees5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a148c32085229079908d4c8Does it really make sense to cut a tree down just to decorate our living
rooms for several weeks?It’s a great Thanksgiving tradition — on the long weekend many families go out to find their Christmas tree.

But most of us want to make the right choice for nature. We love trees. They clean our air and water, store our carbon and lend a hand in creating many of the things we depend on, like our homes and furniture.

In the Media

So does it really make sense to cut one down just to decorate our living rooms for several weeks?

If you’re on the side of nature — yes it does.

Tree boughs with ornaments.

Here’s why:

Real trees grow in the ground for several years before they are cut (a rule of thumb is about one year in age for each foot of tree height), helping mitigate climate change by absorbing CO2, and helping keep our air and water clean and providing habitat for animals.

Thirty million trees are harvested annually for Christmas, out of the 350 to 500 million growing on tree farms across the country. As each year's trees are harvested for sale, there are more than 10 times as many left standing.

A tradition of buying real trees keeps tree farms in business — and their lands covered in forest. The vast majority of Christmas trees today come from farms in the U.S. And for every tree they sell, farmers will plant one to three seedlings in its place, ensuring the sustainability of this industry.

Conversely, about 10 million artificial trees are purchased each year. 90 percent are shipped to the U.S. from China. Artificial trees are not recyclable. In fact, most are made from a kind of plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is derived from petroleum.

Local Options:

The Cle Elum Kiwanis will be selling trees they collected from Conservancy land in the Central Cascades Forests. Money raised by Kiwanis goes to support youth activities in the Cle Elum region.

Christmas tree collection on Conservancy land is for nonprofit groups by permit only, not for individuals. However, the neighboring Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest sells permits for individuals and families to collect trees. Not in Central Washington? Try any of our National Forests. Check in at your nearest Ranger Station to learn more.

Use LED lights — they’ll use as little as 10 percent of the electricity and last for years.

Pass up the non-recyclable tinsel and make garland out of popcorn and cranberries.

Keep using heirloom ornaments year after year, but if you’re still looking to fill some space on the tree, you don’t have to go the store-bought route. Try turning holiday cards or your child’s artwork into ornaments. Or go for a walk to collect pine cones or seashells and decorate with glue and glitter.

If you are planning to purchase ornaments, choose wooden ones over plastic. When you travel during the year, pick up a painted wood ornament from the destination you visit. Soon you’ll have a collection of ornaments that brings back memories of trips with friends and family.

Read More Christmas Tree tips!]]>Which Are Greener? Real or Artificial Christmas TreesBeautiful Day on Dabob BayThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonFri, 17 Nov 2017 18:46:08 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/volunteering-dabob-bay-scotch-broom5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a0cbd9b652deadec53d27f7Volunteers were treated to not only perfect weather, but also to an
informative tour by our partners at Rock Point Oyster, sightings of
porpoises, a bald eagle, and a great blue heron on this trip to pull
invasive scotch broom.By Lauren Miheli, Community Engagement and Volunteer Programs Specialist

When you plan a volunteer event for an autumn day in Washington, you're asking volunteers to brave the rain and blustery weather to get the work done. You're going through a mental checklist of the rain gear you will need to bring and steadying yourself to try to maintain a cheerful spirit as you work in the gray.

So imagine the delight of our volunteers when they showed up to Dabob Bay to pull weeds late in October and were greeted with the most perfect autumn day, with clear skies, beautiful fall foliage and temperatures in the 60s with barely a breeze.

Volunteers were treated to not only perfect weather, but also to an informative tour by our partners at Rock Point Oyster, sightings of porpoises, a bald eagle and a great blue heron on this trip to pull invasive scotch broom. The day was an all-around success. The scotch broom issue seemed to have lessened from past years, and volunteers were able to pull every plant in sight.

With all that nature has to give, we are grateful to have the support of caring people who are willing to give back, with nothing more than some beautiful scenery and wildlife sightings in return.

]]>Beautiful Day on Dabob BayTwo-Minute Takeaway: What is a Floodplain?The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonThu, 16 Nov 2017 22:53:56 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/two-minute-takeaway-what-is-a-floodplain5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a0e0d4224a694c450b3495cFloodplains are all around us, quietly at work, providing rich soil for our
farms, habitat for our salmon and beautiful backdrops for our lives.You may not think about floodplains all that much. But they are all around us, quietly at work, providing rich soil for our farms, habitat for our salmon and beautiful backdrops for our lives.

The Two-Minute Takeaway

A quick explanation of scientific terms and concepts we use regularly in conservation

Floodplains are made by a river meandering as it travels downstream. When this happens, it leaves behind silt and other deposits. These gradually build up to create the floor of the plain — a rich, fertile habitat and prime agricultural lands.

In the past we tried to “control” rivers so we could “use” the floodplain — straightening unruly rivers and building levees to keep the water in its place. We built whole cities where rivers once meandered. Now, salmon runs are disappearing and people live in the path of dangerous floodwaters.

]]>Two-Minute Takeaway: What is a Floodplain?Lovers of Rain, Rejoice!The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonThu, 16 Nov 2017 01:32:03 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/ode-to-rain5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a0cc55608522988655bad21Our wet autumns aren't for everyone. But for some of us, they bring immense
joy.“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” — Roger Miller

Wandering in the wet woods. Photo by Nikolaj Lasbo / TNC

By Nikolaj Lasbo, Digital/Social Marketing Manager

The pitter patter of rain falling on the tree canopy above doesn’t quite reach the forest floor on its own, instead forming together into massive droplets that fall, occasionally striking my head and face with pluvial force. The wet from last night’s storm coats the ferns and moss in the undergrowth of this pine forest and brush off onto my pant legs as I wander the woods with friends to look for the fruits of the rainy season.

Autumn mushroom foraging is a fall tradition we undertake with a childlike joy. Tromping through the woods — at times running when a ‘shroom is spotted — is like an Easter egg hunt in an entirely opposite season and setting. Nature’s autumnal mycological bounty springs up from the ground in what seems an overnight phenomenon — as our climes switched over from record dry and warm summer days to a sudden torrent of rainfall.

Our Indian Summer in the Northwest had an effect on me as a rain lover — a “pluviophile” is a proper name for our type. I eyed the forecast hoping for a break from the sun — what little rain we got did little to whet my appetite.

The season’s early misting rainfall did produce a familiar smell that made me look forward to full autumn — petrichor. You’re not imagining that earthy scent after rain; it’s an oil produced by plants during dry periods that rain releases into the air with other bacteria byproducts. Oh, perfume-y petrichor!

We primarily hunt for chanterelles — easy for us to ID and of abundance in our spot. But the variety of the fungi kingdom is stunning — the most abundant lifeform on Earth by mass — and on this year’s trip into the woods I found edible oyster mushrooms and my first-ever cauliflower mushroom (a delicacy).

Now deeper into the dark nights of autumn, we are still eating the bounty of mushrooms we gathered — the cauliflower mushroom made an excellent stew. Cozy with a fire in the hearth, rain pelting the windows and warmed by a stew provided by autumn’s fungal bounty, I give thanks for all the rain provides.

]]>Lovers of Rain, Rejoice!Honoring Bob Carey, a Champion for Rivers!The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonTue, 14 Nov 2017 23:28:49 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/honoring-bob-carey-a-champion-for-rivers5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a0b79d00852296a548829abHelp us celebrate Bob Carey's tenure by learning more about some of the
projects Floodplains by Design has inspired and supported across the
state. By Kat Morgan, Associate Director of Puget Sound Conservation

It is celebration season, and our staff wanted to get a jump on festivities by celebrating Bob Carey, our director of strategic partnerships for Puget Sound, in reaching his 20th anniversary with The Nature Conservancy!

Just think, when Bob started working with the Conservancy, today’s college sophomores were just coming into the world and the oldest bald eagles returning to the Upper Skagit this winter were just hatching (the average lifespan for a bald eagle is 20 years)! But Bob’s passion for conserving nature and for sharing his love of Puget Sound Rivers was already well developed.

Over the past 20 years, he has helped our chapter lean into big ideas, jump on new opportunities and take on audacious goals for restoring our rivers, including championing the needs and desires of our human communities alongside those rivers.

Bob provided the vision and energy behind the Floodplains by Design coalition, which is re-thinking the way we manage river floodplains in Puget Sound and is bringing together communities to create a common picture of a future where nature, people and our economy are all healthy and thriving.

Bob Carey and Libby Mills with binoculars along the Skagit River in 2007. Photo by Peter Dunwiddie/TNC.

Help us celebrate Bob by learning more about some of the projects Floodplains by Design has inspired and supported across the state.

]]>Honoring Bob Carey, a Champion for Rivers!Fiber Co-op, Sustainable Seafood, and U-Pick Farm are winners of 2017 Washington Coast Works CompetitionThe Nature Conservancy in WashingtonTue, 14 Nov 2017 01:10:52 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/washington-coast-works-sustainable-small-business-winners5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a0a33f771c10b6a456badcaA focus on sustainability paid off for the winners of the 2017 Coast Works
Sustainable Small Business Competition honored at the Coast Works Awards
Ceremony on November 9, 2017 at Olympic Theatre Arts in Sequim.The third annual 2017 Coast Works Sustainable Small Business Competition rewarded entrepreneurs who focus on sustainability and community at the 2017 Coast Works Awards Ceremony on November 9, 2017 at Olympic Theatre Arts in Sequim.

The winners were part of a cohort of 12 entrepreneurs who participated in an intensive training at Olympic Natural Resources Center in June, then received four months of business training and support from the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Enterprise for Equity.

Three winners received cash awards, but the collective impact of the three successive Coast Works competition has created the Coast Works Alliance, which was launched at the 2017 Awards Ceremony. The Alliance will create a mechanism for ongoing entrepreneurial support in the Olympic Peninsula.

Ann Rosecrants received this year's Community Award of $10,000 to build an online market for Twisted Strait Fibers, a Port Angeles-based cooperative for Northwest natural fiber producers and artisans who will work together to bring their sustainable Washington produced wool and wool products to customers around the world.

Rosecrants noted that during the intensive workshop at Olympic Natural Resources Center, one of the participants coined the term "Dream Warriors" during a discussion about fighting for something worthy, and believing in each vision as a useful and beneficial project.

"From an idea to a community, Coast Works armed me with the tools for success" Roscrants said. "We are the Dream Warriors."

Lauren Kerr received the Leadership Award of $5,000 to launch Sol Duc Farms, a U-Pick blueberry and flower farm near Forks. A former wildlife biologist, Lauren will provide apprenticeship and job opportunities for young women aimed at fostering knowledge about sustainable farming, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

"This award will go a long way toward helping us launch our farm," Kerr said. "But the most valuable part of this process has been the community and mentorship that comes with Coast Works."

Jim Stanley received the Change Award of $5,000 to expand Wild Salish Seafood. Jim, a member of the Quinault Indian Nation, operates S/V Josie out of Westport. He plans to use the award to buy a refrigerated trailer and hire Quinault tribal members to increase distribution of Quinault-harvested seafood to his customers in Seattle and Portland.

Stanley echoed the sentiments from his co-winners about the significance of relationships. “The best part of the process has been meeting others who work to make their community better by combining passion with a business-based value proposition.” He doesn’t downplay the role of money. “I appreciate how the award helps me acquire the asset I need to make money. The equity injection means I can expand my business sooner by adding employees.”

Watch a Replay ofthe Washington Coast Works Ceremony:

The 2017 Coast Works sponsors included title sponsor the Key Bank Foundation, the Jamestown-S’Klallam Tribe, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Bank of the Pacific, and a growing community of individuals participating in the crowd-funding campaign.

Eric Delvin is the director of The Nature Conservancy's Emerald Edge program, which is partnering with leaders in local communities throughout the largest temperate rainforest in the world, stretching from Washington's Olympic Peninsula through British Columbia and into Southeast Alaska. Local entrepreneurship and sustainable development are vital for thriving nature and thriving communities in this region.

“Businesses that are committed to sustainable use of our natural resources are fundamental to long term conservation, and we are pleased to continue our support of Washington Coast Works,” said Delvin.

]]>Fiber Co-op, Sustainable Seafood, and U-Pick Farm are winners of 2017 Washington Coast Works CompetitionTwo-minute takeaway: What is Infiltration?The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonThu, 09 Nov 2017 18:58:44 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/two-minute-takeaway-what-is-infiltration5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a039ec2652deabdd310a1f9When water infiltrates the ground, soil and plants can work together to
absorb it, filtering pollutants and decreasing flooding.By Hannah Kett, Cities Program Manager

When rain hits plants, buildings or the ground, there are a couple of directions it can go, such as flowing over pavement and into a nearby stormwater gate or creek or soaking into the ground to be absorbed by plants and recharge groundwater.

Graphic by Erica Simek Sloniker / TNC

The Two-Minute Takeaway

A quick explanation of scientific terms and concepts we use regularly in conservation

Bringing more nature into our cities and towns, such as trees and native plants with long roots, can help slow the flow and encourage this infiltration. When water soaks into the ground, soil and plants work together to absorb it, filtering pollutants, and decreasing flooding.

Some of this water continues to travel down in the soil, becoming cleaner as it goes and recharging the groundwater. This groundwater provides a source of well water and contributes to healthy flows of creeks and rivers.

When we make space for water to infiltrate underground, we experience the benefits aboveground — healthy trees and plants, clean water, drier basements, and much more.

Learn More about our work in cities]]>Two-minute takeaway: What is Infiltration?2017 Washington Coast Works Winners To Be Announced Nov 9The Nature Conservancy in WashingtonWed, 08 Nov 2017 20:53:05 +0000http://www.washingtonnature.org/fieldnotes/washington-coast-works-awards-ceremony-announcement5602e09be4b053956b5c8d3a:56031e6fe4b07982952e52c6:5a036936ec212d87831851eaThe Washington Coast Works Small Business competition is an innovative
initiative to spur on locally-owned business to generate profit while
contributing to community and conservation. This year's winner will be
decided on Nov 9!Update Nov. 10: Ann Rosecrants of natural fiber online marketing in Port Angeles is this year's winner of the Washington Coast Works competition! Watch a replay of the awards ceremony on Facebook Live and stay tuned on this blog for more updates about Ann's business.

Months of visioning, planning and preparation will pay off at the Washington Coast Works awards ceremony Thursday in Port Angeles.

The ten remaining finalists in this year’s Coast Works competition in one last “fast-pitch” round before judges in the afternoon, and winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at Olympic Theatre Arts.

The FastPitch presentations by the finalists are free and open to the public, at Olympic Theatre Arts from 1:15 to 4:30 p.m.

Meet the previous winners!

The goal of the Coast Works initiative is to catalyze small and locally-owned “triple bottom line” businesses. These are businesses that generate profit by contributing to conservation of local natural resources and that will lead a network of community conversations focused on building sustainable community well-being in rural communities on the Washington coast.